BCSSS

International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

2nd Edition, as published by Charles François 2004 Presented by the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science Vienna for public access.

About

The International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics was first edited and published by the system scientist Charles François in 1997. The online version that is provided here was based on the 2nd edition in 2004. It was uploaded and gifted to the center by ASC president Michael Lissack in 2019; the BCSSS purchased the rights for the re-publication of this volume in 200?. In 2018, the original editor expressed his wish to pass on the stewardship over the maintenance and further development of the encyclopedia to the Bertalanffy Center. In the future, the BCSSS seeks to further develop the encyclopedia by open collaboration within the systems sciences. Until the center has found and been able to implement an adequate technical solution for this, the static website is made accessible for the benefit of public scholarship and education.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

INPUT 1)2)

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Any matter, energy or information that a system or a subsystem receives from its environment.

K. BERRIEN proposed to distinguish between maintenance inputs: "those which energize the system and make it ready to function ", (i.e. energy and matter) and signal inputs: "those which provide the system with information to be processed" (1968, p.25).

Any input is obtained from a specific source, which should be identified as precisely as possible in order to establish the absolute or relative dependence of the system in relation to it. It is very important to know the degree of probability that the source will be able to produce the required input in quantity as well in quality during the whole span of time that the system will need it.

This implies a study of the rate of production of the input, of the possible perturbations that could affect it, and of competition from other systems to secure their own needs.

As some inputs may be dangerous for the system, it is also necessary to detect these, in order to avoid them. It should be noted that many systems receive a variety of inputs while being unaware of it; as for example our absorbing numerous pollutants which cannot be directly perceived by our senses.

Inputs must cross boundaries or interfaces. The way they do it in space and time is also a very important feature of the interrelation between the system and its environment.

Last but not least, the transformations of the input within the system are of utmost importance in relation to its correct performance and even, in some cases its very survival.

Categories

  • 1) General information
  • 2) Methodology or model
  • 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
  • 4) Human sciences
  • 5) Discipline oriented

Publisher

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).

To cite this page, please use the following information:

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]

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